Yankees go down against Orioles

TAKING FLIGHT:Chris Tillman led Baltimore to within 1.5 games of a wild-card spot in a game that almost came to blows, while Miami passed Boston for MLB’s best record

AP, BALTIMORE, Maryland

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning of their MLB game in Baltimore, Maryland, on Monday.

Photo: Reuters

MAJOR LEAGUES

Chris Tillman allowed just three hits into the eighth inning as the Baltimore Orioles moved within 1.5 games of idle Tampa Bay for the second AL wild-card spot by beating the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday.

The Yankees fell three games behind Tampa Bay after a game that featured an on-field confrontation between the teams’ managers.

Both dugouts emptied briefly after the first inning, when Orioles manager Buck Showalter angrily exchanged words with Yankees manager Joe Girardi after Girardi apparently said something to Baltimore third-base coach Bobby Dickerson. Showalter had to be restrained by home plate umpire Ed Hickox.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 652nd homer.

In Miami, NL’ Atlanta (86-57) passed Boston (87-58) for baseball’s best record after Evan Gattis drove in two runs to highlight the Braves’ highest-scoring inning in more than a month to break a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman and Gattis all doubled to lead off what became a five-run fourth, Atlanta’s biggest inning since a five-run fifth against Philadelphia on Aug. 2. Kris Medlen (13-12) was the beneficiary that night against the Phillies and again on Monday, getting the win after allowing six hits and two runs in 6-1/3 innings.

Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez struck out 10 batters over seven innings and Asdrubal Cabrera, Yan Gomes and Carlos Santana each hit solo homers to lead the Indians to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals in a matchup between two teams in the thick of the AL wild-card chase.

The Indians, who won despite having only five hits, stayed even with Baltimore, 1.5 games back from Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot. The Royals dropped to four games behind the Rays.